2. Standards are a cost-effective alternative to
government regulation and oversight
Standards can lessen the future regulatory burden on
business by improving quality and systems
Only one-quarter of Australian Standards become
compulsory through legislation or contracts. In most
cases voluntary standards are all that is required
Self-regulation, through Australian Standards, changes
industry and market behaviour
New Australian Standards are developed to respond to
changing economic, consumer, and social needs
Standards can offer quasi-regulation as an alternative
to legislative remedies
Standards complement existing regulations and help
markets work better and more efficiently
Standards are able to pre-empt the need for
government intervention. Standards development is led
by industry and stakeholders
Standards encourage best-practice environmental,
health and safety outcomes lessening the need for
government intervention
Australian Standards Combat Red TapeRED TAPE:
Standards and
the Regulatory
Reform Agenda
3. ✂✂ Standards ensure products manufactured in one country can be sold and used in
another, reducing need for government oversight
✂✂ By encouraging interoperability, international standards lessen the need for
jurisdictions to develop unique regulation
✂✂ Standards reduce barriers-to-trade by establishing agreed international standards for
products and services
✂✂ Standards expand global trade between nations and thereby expand world GDP
Standards Promote & Grow World Trade
Australian Standards have the capacity to solve public policy challenges. They are one
policy tool in a regulatory spectrum that may be applied by governments to provide a
solution to a problem.
✂✂ Standards are a consensus-based alternative to black letter law
✂✂ Standards are the ‘invisible hand’ that make products and systems work as intended
✂✂ Standards pre-empt the need for government intervention
✂✂ Standards encourage best-practice health, social and environmental outcomes
✂✂ Standards guide consumer and market behaviour
Australian Standards as Public Policy Solutions
Non-regulatory
solutions
e.g. information
program
No action
LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
Self-regulation,
including
Australian
Standards,
industry codes
Quasi-regulation,
including
Australian
Standards
endorsed by
government
Co-regulation,
including
Australian
Standards called
up in regulation
Law
(government
legislation)
